Happy Birthday Nate! Part 2

Today we continued the celebration of Nate's birthday with a few of his friends for a baseball party.  We met at home for cupcakes, peanuts and cracker jacks, and then headed to a Husker baseball game.  Despite all the rain we've had in the last few days, it was great weather this afternoon with nice breezes and seats in the shade.  We all had a great time!

 I always love doing the invitations, cakes, decorations and party favor bags, so I'm proud of my handy work.

 The birthday boy blows out the candle and makes a wish.

Ready for the game, stopping just long enough on our way in to humor mom with a picture.

I wasn't sure how the attention spans would fare for 9 full innings, but the boys were pretty focused on the game waiting and hoping for a foul ball to be hit our way.

After the game, they posed one more time for mom.  We cheered the Huskers to victory in their final game of the season.

Though today was all about Nate, I got some cute shots of MC and Caz too.  This was Caz's first baseball game so it was a great occasion for him too.  He was a trooper all 9 innings as well.  He didn't even nap until the ride home!

He has a real fascination with Brandon's baseball hats.  He always reaches for it and pulls it off so he can, of course, eat it. :)

MC was hoping just as much as the boys that she might get a chance to catch a foul ball.  She brought her mitt and everything.

We had a great time celebrating and enjoying the Husker game.  It was a great 7th birthday that we hope Nate will always remember.

Happy Birthday Nate! Part 1

Hi all!  Today our Nate turns 7!! Yes, 7!!  Today, on his birthday, we begin the celebration.  We got up a little early this morning for a pan-'cake' breakfast and opening presents.  Nate will thank you himself, but THANK YOU to his grandparents and all his aunts and uncles for such a showering of gifts.  It was definitely a special morning and Nate loved every gift.  It's a miracle we got him off to school. :)

There are many things I love about this 7 year old, not the least of which is his genuine excitement at everything.  He just has a way of always displaying such an unmitigated, undeniable excitement in everything he does.  It's amazing the thrill I get just from watching him!  Behold, Nate's many faces of joy...

"Is this what I think it is?!?!"

"I am so proud. I am going to love and take such good care of Hedwig for Harry."

"Woooaaaahhhhh!"

"I don't believe this!"

"Eeeek!"

"Really?!?!"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

And yes, he was hugging his sister for her gift of a lacrosse stick! As you know Nate exhibits great enthusiasm for all things collegiate, but primarily football in the fall, baseball about CWS time in June, and basketball March Madness.  This weekend he took it to the next level including collegiate lacrosse in his obsession.  It stemmed from ESPN's airing of the NCAA Lacrosse tournament.  Nate watched the last 20 minutes of the UVA game (Go Cavs Uncle Newman!), and then headed out back to play a little make-shift lacrosse himself.  I wish I had taken a picture, but he had his soccer net out and was using Albert's throwing toy as a stick.  And he went at it recreating the match he had just watched.  So of course, that night he announced that he wanted a lacrosse stick for his birthday.  MC was the only one who hadn't actually made her purchase yet, so she made up her mind and got lots of hugs for her generosity.

"Awesome, a tetherball!"  You should have seen his face when he realized the ball came with a pole in the backyard ready for play!

Nate has been begging for a tetherball for months.  He had even gone so far as to ask me for some duct tape and rope one afternoon so he could make one himself and hang it from the basketball hoop.  We decided then to put one in the backyard for him.  Brandon began the project last weekend covering with the story that he was fixing the sprinkler system.  The cover worked like a charm and Nate was very surprised this morning.  It should make for some great summer fun.

And the face of an intense sportsman, tongue hanging out and all.

We will pick up the celebration with pizza tonight for supper and a small birthday party this weekend.  So look for Part Two sometime this weekend. And thank you everyone for such generous birthday wishes!!

Caz's New Tricks - 6 months

Caz is a growing baby!  He's six months now and is up to all the fun 6-month-old tricks.  He is pretty good at sitting up now, a little weeble-wobbly, but getting better and stronger everyday.  He can pretty much roll anywhere he wishes and he loves playing on the floor with his toys rolling every which way.  He has shown the beginning signs of crawling pushing up on to his knees.  No doubt he'll put together the moving his arms and knees in time, especially with Dad and MC trying to 'teach' him. :)  He is cooing and babbling a lot too.  I'm not sure you can count it as his first word, but he chants 'mama mama mama' when he is hungry and/or tired.  It certainly melts my heart.  And the last couple days he has started reaching out when you go to pick him up, another heart-melter.  The eating is going well too as he makes his way through the different veggies.  So he is growing fast and changing all the time.  And he is such a good sport with all the running around he does with his brother and sister's busy schedules.  He's a sweet, sweet boy and we love him to pieces here.  You can check out our sweetheart for yourself in these videos....

Mari Cagle on the Violin

I have several clips of Mari Cagle playing her violin.  She had her recital this afternoon at which she played Waltz in A Major by Mozart.  It's a beautiful piece and you might be able to tell that she is working on vibrato in her playing a bit.  It's a challenge, and she's just begun practicing the new skill which has been exciting for her.

As many of you may know, Brandon celebrated his birthday recently, and as a gift for her Dad, MC taught herself to play a version of the song, "My Little Buttercup" from the movie Three Amigos.  This is one of the songs that Brandon used to sing to Mari Cagle when she was a baby (not your typical lullaby but perfect for BL to sing to his babies).  Recently, it has become a popular tune again in our house to be sung to Caz.  Please excuse my terrible vocal accompaniment but she wanted Nate and I to sing along, and unfortunately you hear all me and very little Nate.  Needless to say, Brandon loved his surprise gift.

Have a great week!

A little more Easter, Art Show & a Race

I have a bit of a hodge-podge of pictures to share this post.  I have a few more Easter pictures and with the end of the school year fast approaching, things are very busy here with many different activities so check it out...

The Easter bunny brought new swings for the swing set including a swing just for Caz...

 He couldn't quite get his little hands around the eggs, or I think he would have liked them a lot more.  Just wait until next year.

 Mari Cagle and Nate were both excited for his maiden voyage.  They both wanted to push their sweet little brother.

 It's hard to know if he really enjoys swinging because he seems so focused on getting the straps in his mouth!  But he's smiling. :)

The school art show was this week.  MC's class studied Vincent Van Gogh and did their own 'Starry Night' painting.

Nate's class was studying architecture.  He did a house entitled 'Sloppy Joe.'  His reasoning, "It's called sloppy, but when someone looks at it they'll think, wait a minute, this isn't a sloppy picture!  So I'm tricking them."

And this Saturday morning we got an early start with the annual Mayor's Run where local elementary schools compete to have the most participants in a 1 mile run around the state capital.  Nate and MC both made a strong showing.  MC was very excited that she ran the whole race. :)

 

Nate looks pooped as he came across the finish line.

Check out MC's pink hair.  The Maxey PTO was there painting all the kids hair making them easy to spot!

And the weekend continues...soccer games and a violin recital still to fit in!!

Happy Easter!

We are having a blessed Easter celebrating our risen Lord! We've hunted eggs, the Easter bunny has visited, we got dressed in our Easter duds for a much needed trip to mass, and enjoyed some playing and relaxing.  I have lots of pictures to share, especially of the kiddos in their Easter outfits.  Then I'm off to attempt a re-creation of the wonderful pot luck Easter suppers Brandon and I remember so fondly at our Grandmas' houses.  Many blessings to our much-missed family and friends!

My silly Nate.

Such urgency & concentration.

Yes, it's pretty cool here for Easter.  We are definitely ready for sunshine and warmer temps.

Quite a haul for a backyard hunt.

Beautiful in blue.

 

 

Caz's expressions are so sweet.  He was such a sport, so quiet and sweet throughout mass and then he tolerated my many pictures.

Our baby is 6 months old this week!  He checked in at 17lbs 6oz and 27 1/4" long.  He's enjoying rice cereal and a special Easter treat....squash.